It is required by law for all drivers to have car insurance and meet the minimum insurance requirements before getting on the road. Police check if drivers have insurance coverage each time they stop them, but how do police know if a car is insured?
Through your license plates, the police can check your information to know if you have car insurance coverage. Using different tools, the police can generate your car information and check if you have car insurance. Drivers found without insurance coverage will be penalized. This is because it is illegal to be on the road with an uninsured car or as an uninsured driver.
How Do Police Know If a Car Is Insured?
The police will know if a car is insured or not, as well as if the car insurance is valid, just by checking your license plates using an electronic verification system. Depending on the state, the methods used by the police to run through a car’s license plate information are different. These devices allow the police to check out the below information about the driver.
- If the vehicle is uninsured.
- If the driver’s insurance card is up-to-date.
- If the no-fault car insurance policy of the driver has expired.
Using this information, the police can determine if a car is insured or not.
When Does the Police Check if a Car is Insured?
During or before a traffic stop, officers mostly check if a car is insured using electronic verification systems. Even without stopping a vehicle, officers can check through the car’s license plate to see if the car is insured while the driver is driving off. If the system detects an insurance issue, the officer may stop the vehicle to verify whether the driver has a valid insurance card.
Furthermore, police use electronic verification systems to check for uninsured drivers and get them off the road. Through the system, officers can check if a driver is insured or not, and they can also check if a driver is a continuous offender. Insurance checkpoints are also used by the police to scan drivers for insurance.
Can the Police see what Type of Car Insurance I have?
Insurance databases are available to the majority of police forces. If ever you are asked to provide proof of your car insurance, the police will also check if your policy is updated. Using their resources, the police can check what type of car insurance policy you have.
How Electronic Insurance Detection Helps Drivers
Knowing that the police can check if a driver has insurance just by checking their license plates gives other drivers the motivation to get car insurance and stay insured. There are state-authorization car insurance requirements given to help drivers if they ever get involved in a car accident.
Drivers with no car insurance may have to pay accident-related expenses out of pocket. If an uninsured driver sustains any bodily injuries after the occurrence of an accident, they have no right to sue for damages or any injury. Insurance prevents you from encountering criminal and financial penalties that can lead to jail time.
What if false Insurance Information is Provided?
As soon as the license plates of a driver are checked, the police can determine if the insurance information is false or not. Having a false insurance card can lead to severe legal consequences. You may have to pay an expensive fine or serve jail time.
What Happens If the Police Learn a Car is Uninsured?
There are penalties to be served if a driver is driving uninsured. These penalties include:
- Fines.
- Suspension of a driver’s license.
- Misdemeanor charge.
- Also, jail time.
- Difficulty renewing car registration.
- Inability to sue for damages or bodily injuries.
Uninsured drivers may also be held responsible for medical bills and damages caused to victims, irrespective of who is at fault.
How does the Police Verify if a Car is Insured?
Reviewing your insurance documentation is an elementary process in most states. The police will request your insurance card and contact your insurance company to confirm your policy. Below is the process taken to verify if a car is insured.
- You will be asked to pull over by the police.
- Also, proof of your insurance will be requested.
- Your proof of insurance will be reviewed by the police to confirm your name and date.
Lastly, you may have to go through this process if the police identify a reason to believe you are uninsured or have false insurance.